Jeremy Pruitt has handled the search well, and like the quality of coaches that are on his staff currently, he has properly vetted quality coaches to fill Helton’s vacancy that he leaves behind.

The hire is about the right fit offensively and in recruiting.

One candidate during the search with a desire to join Pruitt’s staff asked Vols Wire about how much their hire would also bring excitement to Tennessee.

There has been plenty of excitement as former Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze is a finalist for the job after Vols Wire learned Friday afternoon that all indications were that he was pointing towards joining Tennessee’s staff.

Today, Birmingham-based insider Nick Taylor tells Vols Wire that Freeze remains a clear-cut finalist as Vols Wire learned that Monday will be a busy day for agent Jimmy Sexton.

After a weekend that saw UT Interim President Randy Boyd discussing the coaching search following some unhappy Trustees, the light remains green for Phillip Fulmer and Pruitt to hire the former Ole Miss head coach.

The light being green goes back to what VFL Philip Jones told Vols Wire Saturday morning that people close to Boyd have told him that the UT Interim President will not block Freeze’s hire. Jones tells Vols Wire Monday morning that Freeze remains in good standing to be hired.

Freeze being a finalist correlates with Fulmer’s remarks one year ago when taking over as director of athletics – saying UT “has the resources to play with anyone at anytime and that is what we are going to do.”

Vols Wire will continue to have updates on the search throughout Monday.